To vye ftrange forms with Fancy, yet t'imagine Dol. Hear me, good Madam: Your lofs is as your felf, great; and you bear it, By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots Cleo. I thank you, Sir. Know you, what Cafar means to do with me? Dol. Though he be honourable Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph? Dol. Madam, he will, I know't. All. Make way there, - -Cafar. Enter Cæfar, Gallus, Mecenas, Proculeius, and Caf. Which is the Queen of Egypt? Dol. It is the Emperor, Madam. Caf. Arife, you fhall not kneel: I pray you, rife, rife, Ægypt. [Cleo. kneels. obfcure enough. I'll firft reform the Text, and then fubjoin the Interpretation. 66 66 Yet t'imagine An Antony, were Nature's Prize 'gainst Fancy, Condemning Shadows quite. The Senfe is This. "Nature in general has not Materials fufficient to furnish out real Forms, for ev'ry Model that the boundless Power "of the Imagination can sketch out. [This is the Meaning of the "Words, Nature wants Matter to ye strange Forms with Fancy.] "But yet, tho' in general This be true, that Nature is more poor, narrow, and confin'd, than Fancy; yet it must be own'd, that when "Nature presents an Antony to us, fhe then gets the better of Fancy, "and makes even the Imagination appear poor and narrow; or, in our "Author's Words, condemns fhadows quite." The Word Prize, which I have restored, is the prettieft Word in the World in this place; as, figuring a Contention between Nature and Imagination about the larger Extent of their Powers; and Nature gaining the Prize by producing Antony. And fure, Nothing could be faid more advantagious for Antony, than this; that Imagination came short of his Perfections. Mr. Warburton. Cleo. Sir, the Gods Will have it thus, my mafter and my 1 Caf. Take to you no hard thoughts: The record of what injuries you lord did us, Though written in our flesh, we fhall remember Cleo. Sole Sir o'th' world, I cannot project mine own caufe fo well Caf. Cleopatra, know, We will extenuate rather than inforce: (Which tow'rds you are moft gentle) you fhall find A benefit in this Change; but if you feek To lay on me a cruelty, by taking Antony's courfe, you fhall bereave your felf Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and we, Your fcutcheons, and your figns of Conqueft, fhall Hang in what place you pleafe. Here, my good lord. Caf. You fhall advife me in all for Cleopatra. (64) (64) You shall advise me of all, Cleopatra.] This I prefume to be a Reading folely of Mr. Pope's. But what an harmonious Verfe has he giv'n us, in Point of Emphafis? And how has he disgraced the Poet and his Emperor, in point of Sentiment? What a fheaking Figure does Cafar make, in saying, "You fhall confefs your whole fubftance; you fhan't fecrete one penny"; before he knows what the Paper is, that Cleopatra puts into his hand? But I have reitor'd the Reading of the old Books, which carries a Dignity fuitable to the Subject. Cæfar takes pains to comfort her; and tells her, that the herfelf fhall direct him in ev'ry Thing for her own Relief and Satis action. He repeats the fame Confolation to her in other Terms, when he leaves her: Therefore, be cheer'd; Make not your Thoughts your Prifons: no, dear Queen ; Yourself shall give us Counfel. Cleo. Cleo. This is the brief of mony, plate, and jewels I am poffeft of where's Seleucus? Cleo. This is my treasurer, let him fpeak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have referv'd To my felf nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known. Cleo. See, Cafar! Oh, behold, How Pomp is follow'd: mine will now be yours, Ev'n make me wild. Oh flave, of no more Traft Than love that's hir'd- What, goeft thou back? thou fhalt Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings. Slave, foul-lefs villain, dog, O rarely base! Caf. Good Queen, let us intreat you. Cleo. O Cafar, what a wounding fhame is this, That thou, vouchfafing here to vifit me, (65) 'Tis exactly valued, Not petty Things admitted.] Sagacious Editors! Cleopatra gives in a Lift of her Wealth, fays, 'tis exactly valued, but that petty Things are not admitted in this Lift: and then the appeals to her Treasurer, to vouch, that she has referv'd Nothing to her felf. Nay, and when he betrays her in this Point, fhe is reduced to the fhift of exclaiming against the Ingratitude of Servants to a Prince in his Decline, and of making Apologies for having fecreted certain Trifles. What Confiftency is there in fuch a Con; duct? And who does not fee, that we ought to read? 'Tis exactly valued; Not petty Things omitted. For this Declaration lays open her Falfhood; and makes ner angry, when her Treasurer detects her in a direct Lye. Doing the honour of thy lordliness (66) Addition of his envy! Say, good Cafar, Their mediation, muft I be unfolded By one that I have bred? the Gods! it fmites me (66) Doing the Honour of thy Lordliness To one fo meek.] Thefe Editors, like Sir Martin Marr-all, are perpetually plunging into fresh Abfurdities. Surely, Cleopatra must be bantering Cefar, to call herself meek, when he had the Moment before feen her fly at her Treasurer, and withing to tear out his Eyes. I correct, To One fo weak; i. e. fo fhrunk in Fortune and Power: vanquish'd, and spoil'd of her Kingdom. Befides, the might allude to her bodily Decay. For Plutarch tells us, that the receiv'd Cafar, as fhe was lying on a poor pallat-bed'; that he threw herself at his Feet, in her Shift; that her Hair was torn off, and her Face mangled; that her Voice was low and trembling, and her Eyes funk into her Head with continual Weeping fo that she was in a pitiful State. And notwithstanding all thefe concurring Symptoms of Weakness and Decay, there is no Inconfiftency in her flying at her Treasurer: for, on any fudden Provocation, the Agonies of Refentment will exert against the lowest Infirmity, and put Nature on the Strain. (67) Or I fall fhew the Cinders of my Spirits Thro' th' Afbes of my Chance.] If the Text be genuine, this must be the Allufion; fhe confiders herself, in her Downfall, as a Fabrick destroy'd by Fire and then would intimate, that the fame Fire has reduc'd her Spirits too to Cinders; i. e. confum'd the Strength and Dignity of her Soul and Mind. Mr. Warburton thinks, the Poet wrote; Thro' th' Afbes of my Cheeks. And, indeed, our Poet has an Image in Othello, that seems to coun tenance this Correction. I should make very Forges of my Cheeks, Through Through th' afhes of my chance: wert thou a man, Thou would't have mercy on me. Caf. Forbear, Seleucus. Cleo. Be't known, that we the Greatest are mifthought For things that others do; and when we fall, We answer others merits, in our names Are therefore to be pitied. Caf. Cleopatra, Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put We i'th' roll of Conqueft, ftill be't yours; Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe, Cafar's no merchant to make prize with you Of things that merchants fold. Therefore, be cheer'd: Make not your thoughts your prifons; no, dear Queen, For we intend fo to difpofe you, as Your felf fhall give us counfel: feed, and fleep. That we remain your friend; and fo, adieu. Cleo. My mafter, and my lord! Caf. Not fo: adieu. [Exeunt Cæfar and his train. Cleo. He words me, Girls, he words me, That I fhould not be noble to my self. But hark thee, Charmian. [Whispers Charmian. Iras. Finish, good lady, the bright day is done, And we are for the dark. Cleo. Hie thee again. — (68) I've fpoke already, and it is provided; Go put it to the haste. Char. Madam, I will. I've spoke already, and it is provided; [Exit Charm. Freinshemius has obferv'd, upon a Paffage of Quintus Curtius, that your beft Writers very often leave fome things to be understood from the Confequence and Implication of Words, which the Words themselves do not exprefs. Ità fæpiffimè optimi quique Scriptores volunt quædam intelligi ex confequentia Verborum, quæ ipfi non apertè dixerunt. Our Author obferves this Conduct here. Cleopatra must be fuppos'd to mean, fhe has fpoke for the Afp, and it is provided, tho' fhe fays not a Word of it in direct Terms. Enter |